Judge: Early end for refuge occupation leader’s supervision

The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Ore., is seen from atop an old fire lookout on Friday, Jan. 15, 2016. A small, armed group has been occupying the refuge since Jan. 2 to protest federal land use policies. (AP Photo/Keith Ridler)

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Payne was described as a pivotal ‘’architect’’ of the armed takeover of the 2016 Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. He served his prison term and completed half of three years of ordered supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiring to impede federal employees at the wildlife refuge through intimidation, threat or force.

Payne’s lawyer says he is now head of operations at REM Technologies, a start-up company in Belgrade, Montana, and that further supervision is unnecessary.